Mounted kerf-cutting machine



ct. 26, 1943. E. M. ARENTZEN MOUNTED KERF-CUTTING MACHINE Filed Sept.25, 1941 '7 Sheets-Sheet l f/zc/zfo/z' Fwd M ammYza i $7 @5704 71 2/ 1Oct. 26, 1943. v E. M. ARENTZEN 2,332,546

MOUNTED KERF- CUTTING MACHINE Filed Sept. 25, 1941 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 '7Sheets-Sheet 3 E. M. ARENTZEN MOUNTED KEEP-CUTTING MACHINE Filed Sept.25, 1941 Get. 26, 1943 E. M. ARENTZEN MOUNTED KEEP-CUTTING MACHINE FiledSept. 23, 1941 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 Oct; 26, 1943. E. M. ARENTZEN I MOUNTEDKERF-CUTTING MACHINE Filed Sept. 23, 1941 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 1943' E. M.ARENTZEN MOUNTED KERF-CUTTING MACHINE Filed Sept. 23, 1941 '7Sheets-Sheet 6 @ch 26, 1943. E, M. ARENTZEN MOUNTED KEEP-CUTTING MACHINEFiled Sept. 23, 1941 7 Sheets-Sheet '7 INVENTOR. E 12w w M. a r Mew 1 MFo 4 Patented Oct. 26, 1943 MOUNTED REEF-CUTTING MACHINE Einar M.'Arentzen, Charleroi, Pa., assignor, by

mesne assignments, to Goodman Manufacturing Company, Chicago, 111., a.corporation of Illinois Application September 23, 1941, Serial N 0.411,985 3 Claims. (01. lat-79.2)

This invention relates to improvements in kerf-cutting machines of themounted type,

i wherein a kerf-cutting element is mounted on a mobile base frame forvarious vertical and lateral adjustments.

Machines of the above type have heretofore been commonly supported byand guided along mine tracks by means of flanged track wheels, so thatthe use of such machines has been limited to mines wherein it ispractical to extend the track system to the various working faces. Evenin such cases the scope of movement of such machines is restricted bythe mine tracks on which they are guided.

The principal object of my invention is to provide such mounted cuttingmachines with a novel form of traction and steering mechanism includingrubber tired wheels, whereby the machine maybe readily maneuvered fromplace to place in the mine without limitations as to a track system, andwhereby the cutting operations can be performed in an improved, morefacile manner.

For illustrative purposes, my invention is shown herein as applied to a.mounted kerf-cutting machine of the Universal type wherein the cutterbar is capable of adjustment for cutting in horizontal and verticalplanes in front of the base frame, and at various tilted angles relativeto such planes. It will be understood, however, that the invention mayalso be applied to various other types of mounted kerf-cutting machines,having various forms of bar elevating, swinging or tilting devices.

The invention may best be understood by reference to the accompanyingdrawings, in which Figure 1 is a plan view of'a kerf-cutting machine towhich my invention has been applied.

Figure 2 is a side view of the machine shown in Figure 1. s

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view showing the front part ofthe main frame or chassis of the machine shown in the preceding figures,illustrating the arrangement of the front v wheels and the driveconnections thereto.

Figure 4 is a side view of the parts shown in Figure 3.

Figure 5 is an enlarged detail transverse section through the frontdrive axle, taken on line 5-5 of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a detailed transverse section through the power shaft, takenon line 6-6 of Figure 4. v

Figure 7 is a transverse detail section through the steering structureat the rear of the machine,

taken on line 1 -1 of Figure 2, but showing the supporting wheels inelevation.

Figure 8 is a section taken generally on line 88 of Figure 7.

Figure 9 is a, bottom view of the steering struc-- ture.

Figure 10 is an enlarged detail side view, in part section, showing themanual brake control mechanism.

Figure 11 is a section taken on line H-H of Figure 10. v

Figure 12 is a section taken on line l2l2 of Figure 10.

Figures 13 to 15 are diagrammatic plan views illustrating a novel methodof operation of the machine of my invention in a mine.

Figure 16 is a side view of the machine in outline, illustrating one ofthe steps in the method of cutting illustrated in Figures 13 to 15.

Referring now to details of the embodiment of my invention illustratedin the drawings, the same is shown as applied to a mounted kerfcuttingmachine of the Universal type, which, as previously mentioned, hasheretofore been used in mines, but usually has been mounted on trackwheels for'propulsion and guiding along mine tracks. Such machines arewell known, so detailed description thereof need not be made herein,excepting to point out the principal elements, and particularly thoseparts which are involved in the application of my invention thereto.

The machine shown in the drawings includes a main frame l0, having aturntable H mounted at its forward end, and a supporting frame I2pivotally mounted for vertical swinging adjustment on a transverse pivotl3 at the rear of said turntable. A cutter head I4 is rotatably mountedon the front end of said supporting frame for rolling adjustment about agenerally longitudinal axis, and has a cutter bar 15 swivelled thereonfor lateral swinging movement in its own plane about the axis I6 of acutter chain drive sprocket ll. The cutter head l4 also has means fortilting the plane of the cutter bar at various angles rela- Theturntable H has a depending toothed hub engaged by a rack ll". Said rackis reciprocahly operated by a fluid cylinder device mounted beneath themain frame I0, so that said turntable can be swivelled reversely bypower.

The elevating means for the supporting frame l2 consists of a pair offluid cylinder devices or jacks 26, 20 at opposite sides of saidsupporting frame, having their piston rods 2|, 2| pivotally connected toopposite sides of the turntable The above mentioned fluid cylinderdevices may be operated as usual by pressure supplied thereto undermanual control of suitable valves, not shown.

The main frame III also includes a rear frame portion 22 on which ismounted a motor 23, connected through the usual gear reduction mechanismto a drive chain 24, which heretofore has been operatively engaged witha sprocket on the rear track wheel axle for propelling the main frameI0, and a front track wheel axle was journalled in supports at the frontend of said main frame. As will presently appear, I employ the samemotor and chain drive as a part of the propelling and steering mechanismfor the rubber-tired wheel mounting.

Referring now to the novel means for mounting the machine for propulsionand steering on rubber-tired wheels, said means consists essentially oftwo wheel structures 25, 25 disposed at opposite sides of the main frameat the extreme front end thereof, and a swivel wheel structure 26arranged for swivelling on a vertical axis at the extreme rear end ofthemain frame. The general wheel arrangement thus described provides ineffect a three-point support for the machine, and the swivelled rearwheel structure affords other novel advantages in the operation of thecutting machine as will presently appear.

Each of the front wheel structures 25 shown herein consist of a pair ofwheels 21, 21 having pneumatic tires 28, 26 thereon, arranged side byside with their tire rims 29, 26 mounted on an elongated sleeve 30forming in effect a common hub member for both wheels. For conveniencein mounting the tires and their rims, each of said tire rims 23 may besplit on a median vertical plane as shown in Figure 5, and the twohalves of each rim are detachably connected to each other and tosuitable lugs 3|, 3| projecting from the hub 36, by bolts 32.

The sleeves or wheel hubs 33 are rotatabiy mounted on opposite ends of athrough axle 33 by means of suitable anti-friction bearings 34, 35. Theaxle 33 extends through a pair of depending brackets 36, 36 rigidlyconnected at opposite sides of the main frame III as by bolts 31, 31. Itwill be understood that the axle 33 is disposed in approximately thesame position relative to the main frame as the track wheel axle forwhich it is substituted.

A drive sprocket 39 is mounted on each of the hub members 36, preferablybetween the two pairs of wheels, as shown in Figure 5. The two sprocketsare connected by chains 40, 40 to sprockets 4|, 4| at opposite ends of adifferential drive structure indicated at 42 and shown in detail in Figue 6.

The differential structure 42 consists of an elongated tubular housing43 having two aligned separate shafts 44, 44 rotatablymounted inopposite ends thereof. The drive sprockets 4|, 4| have their hubs 4|, 4|keyed on the projecting ends of said shafts. A brake drum 46 is alsofixed on each of said sprocket hubs, for engagement 'by brake bands 46,as will presently be described.

The housing 43 is rotatably supported at opposite ends by anti-frictionbearing members 41, 41 carried in depending bearing brackets 48, 48,respectively, suitably secured to side frame members i l0"- of the mainframe ID. A differential gear assembly of the usual form is disposed inan enlarged gear casing 43 forming the central portion of the housing43. Said gear assembly includes bevel gears 50, 50 fixed on the adjacentends of shafts 44, 44, and

meshed with bevel gears 5|, 5| rotatably carried by the gear casing 43".

A chain sprocket 53 is fixed on the housing 43 adjacent the gear casing43 in position to be engaged by the drive chain 24, which has heretoforebeen described as constituting part of the drive mechanism for themachine. It will be understood that in the form shown herein, thedifferential structure 42 is disposed in substantially the same locationas the rear track wheel axle which said differential structure replaces. The sprocket 53 thus replaces a similar sprocket on the reartrack wheel axle, and is in position to be engaged by the drive chain 24and be driven by the motor 23. In the particular arrangement shownherein, where the drive chain 24 is disposed centrally of the machine,the tubular housing 43 provides sufficient bearing support for the drivesprocket 53 even though said sprocket must be located at a considerabledistance from the bearing brackets 48, 48, in order to be in properalignment with said drive chain.

With the differential drive above described,

the front wheel structures 25, 25 may be drivendifierentially, and thebrake bands 46, 46 engaging the brake drums 45, 45 onthe differentialshaft 56 by a link 58 and lever 59, fixed in said shaft. The lever isrotatably mounted on the shaft 56 and is operated by a hand lever 51'connected to its extended upper end 59'- by a link 58*. The two handlevers 51 and 51' are disposed side by side so that they can be operatedsimultaneously for applying substantially equal braking effort on thebrake drums 45, 45, or can be operated selectively for retarding one ofthe front drive wheels while speeding up the other through thedifferential gear. This differential drive control is not only helpfulin steering the machine, but is of especial advantage during certaincutting operations, where it may be desired to apply more power on oneside of the machine than the other.

The rear steering wheel structure 26 is mounted below a platform 60,herein shown as a rearward extension of the frame portion 22. Theplatform 60 with its wheel structure may be constructed as a unit andsuitably secured to the rear end of the machineframe. In the form shown,the platform is generally semi-circular at its rear end and has acentral elevated recess 6| within which is rigidly secured a base plate62 having an integral depending bearing pin 63. An upright bearingsleeve 64 is rotatably mounted on said bearing pin as by verticallyspaced anti-friction bearings 65, 65. The bearing sleeve is held inplace by a nut 66 threaded on the lower end of the bearing pin 63.

The bearing sleeve 64 has a pair of relatively short stub axles 61,formed integrally therewith on opposite sides and adjacent its lowerend, on which axles are rotatably mounted wheels 68, 68. Said wheels maybe of any suitable construction, including hubs 69, and rims 10, withrubber tires H, II mounted thereon. The axes of the stub axles 61, 61are preferably inclined downwardly so that the wheels 68, 68 are dishedinwardly and approach each other quite closely at their bottom treadsurfaces, as shown in Figure '7.

A steering ring 12 is disposed in a generally horizontal planesurrounding the wheels 68, 68 as shown in Figure 9, which ring has twosup- .porting arms '13, 13 extending between said wheels at the frontand rear thereof, and securedto the lower end of the bearing sleeve 64.The steering ring has a grooved cable guide 14 formed about itsperiphery, adapted to receive a steering cable 15 therein associatedwith steering control mechanism, herein consisting of a pair offluid-operated cylinder devices l6, 16 supported longitudinally inbrackets Tl, ll along the under side of the platform 60 at oppositesides thereof. Each of the cylinder devices 16 has a piston 18 carryinga sheave 19 at its forward end for engaging the steering cable 15. Thetwo ends of said cable are anchored, respectively, by clamps 80, 80 atthe front ends of the cylinders 16. From each anchored end, said cableis trained forwardly and downwardly over the adjacent sheave l9, andthence rearwardly around the grooved cable guide 14 on the steering ring12. Fluid pressure is supplied alternately to the two cylinders throughpipes 8|, 8| under manual control of valves in any well known manner, soas to extend one of the pistons while pressure on the other piston isrelieved, to permit its simultaneous retraction. Thus the two wheels 68,68 may be swivelled by power in opposite directions for steering themachine from its rear end.

With a machine constructed as above described, it will now be understoodthat it may be maneuvered both for transportation from place to placeand for cutting, without being dependent upon, or limited by, the tracksystem in the mine. The rubber-tired wheels permit the machine to rideover or along mine tracks wherever they may be encountered in the mine,as for instance, in the main haulage entries.

Among other advantages of a machine made in accordance with my inventionis its especial adaptability to cut across the working face of a mineroom or entry in the novel manner illustrated in Figures 13 to 15,inclusive. This cutting operation consists in sumping the cutter bar bymoving the machine forwardly near the center of the room, as indicatedin full lines in Figure 13, then swinging the bar by power to make anarcuate out about the axis of the turntable II, to an angular positionsubstantially as shown in dotted lines in the same figure. The elevatingcylinders 20, 20, on the supporting frame I2 are then actuated todecrease the angle between said supporting frame and the 7 main frame ofthe machine, as shown in Figure 16.

Since the cutter bar is inserted in its kerf, it may serve as atemporary support anchored in the working face, with the result that thefront end of the machine may be lifted by power relative to thesupporting frame l2, until the front supporting wheel structures 25, 25are entirely free of the ground, as indicated in dotted lines in Figure16. While the front end of the machine is thus supported by the cutterbar, the turntable I I may be swung laterally by actuating its cylinderdevice .l P, in a direction reverse to its initial cutting movement, asindicated in Figure 14, so as to swing the entire front end of themachine about the axis of the rear wheel structure 26, and prmition themachine frame, as well as the cutter bar, in an advanced position alongthe mine face. Power on the elevating cylinders 20, 20 is then releasedso as to permit the front wheels to resume their normal supportingengagement with the ground. The cutter bar may then be swung laterallyin the same direction as its initial cutting movement, so as to continuethe kerf toward the left, as indicated in dotted lines in Figure 14.

When the initial or sumping cut is made-at the center of the room asshown at Figures 13 and 14, the kerf may be extended to the right-rib orwall by "back cutting, that is to say, operating the cutter chain in areverse direction while swingging the cutter bar from its initialsumping position toward the right rib as indicated in Figure 15. It willbe understood, however, that if desired, the cutter bar may be initiallysumped along the right rib so that the entire width of the room will becut by swinging the front end of the machine toward the left in aplurality of successive positions. By repeating this alternate lifting,lateral swinging, and dropping of the front wheels relative to theground, the machine may be operated to cut a relatively wide room orentry, utilizing the rear steering wheel structure as its effective axisof swinging movement, so as to out a kerf along a much longer radius andproduce a much straighter working face than can be done with the usualtrack mounted machines, wherein the maximum swinging radius of thecutter bar is centered atthe turntable axis.

It will be understood further, of course, that substantially the samemethod of cutting can be employed by pivoting the cutter bar about itsown axis on the cutter head I4 instead of the axis of the turntable ll.

Although I have shown and described one particular embodiment of myinvention, it will be understood that I do not wish to be limited to theexact construction shown and described, but that various changes andmodifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope ofmy invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In combination with a kerf-cutting machine frame, rubber-tiredsupporting wheels for said frame including a steering wheel structurepivoted on a vertical axis, and fluid actuating means for swivellingsaid steering wheel structure including an arcuate steering memberextending horizontally around said wheels and connected to said wheelstructure, a pair of cylinder and piston devices mounted in said frame,and means connected at opposite ends to said devices and trained aboutsaid steering member for rotating said wheel structure in oppositedirections.

2. In combination with a kerf-cutting machine frame, rubber-tiredsupporting wheels fo said frame including a steering wheel structurepivoted on a vertical axis, fluid actuating means for swivelling saidsteering wheel structure including a pair of cylinder and piston devicesdisposed horizontally of said frame at opposite sides of said wheelstructure, an arcuate steering member extending horizontally about saidwheels and connected to said wheel structure, and flexible cable meansconnected at opposite ends to said cylinder and piston devices andtrained about said arcuate steering member for rotating said wheelstructure in opposite directions.

3. In combination with a kerf-cutting machine frame, rubber-tiredsupporting means for said frame including a steering wheel structurepivoted on a vertical axis, said steering wheel structure having twowheels arranged side by side in relativeb' close relation on oppositesides of their steering axis, an annular steering member disposedhorizontally about said wheels and connected to said steering structurebetween said wheels, and means for swivelling said wheel structure forsteering including flexible cable means engaging said annular steeringmember.

EINAR M. AREN'TZEN.

